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Councillor Raymond Cho is running for the Progressive Conservatives in the next provincial election.

Cho, who has often been critical of right-wing Mayor Rob Ford, won the nomination for Scarborough-Rouge River Monday night.

The Ward 42, Scarborough-Rouge River councillor was acclaimed as the PC candidate.

Cho, 76, who once ran federally for the NDP, has toyed with running for the provincial Liberals and ran as an “independent liberal” federally as well.

But Cho says he supports the provincial PCs now and has great respect for the party’s leader, Tim Hudak.

“When I first entered politics, I was NDPer, I was young and very idealistic. I (saw) only one side, people who need more help,” he said.

But over time, Cho said, he realized the need to support business people and taxpayers. That led to him leaving the NDP and joining the Liberal party. After a spat with the Liberals when he tried to challenge a Liberal incumbent, Cho said he was kicked out of the party.

“I think the NDP are doing a lot of good work for people in need, they are good in opposition, but once they form the government it creates lots of problems,” he said.

“This is a difficult time economically, financially and the Progressive Conservative Party should be the next government.”

Cho said he disagrees with several recent decisions by the provincial Liberals, including the decision to prorogue parliament.

The veteran city councillor said if elected he would be a “moderate voice” in the PC party.

“I’d like to be the bridge between city and province, we need that kind of bridge,” he said.

Scarborough-Rouge River is currently held by Liberal MPP Bas Balkissoon.

Cho said he will continue in his councillor job. When a provincial election is called, Cho said he will take a leave of absence from City Hall and not collect his salary during the campaign.

Fellow Scarborough Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker said he has “great respect” for Cho but can’t believe he’s jumped in bed with the PCs.

“I’m surprised that Raymond Cho would want to be a member of the Conservative party and I’m surprised that the Conservative party would want Raymond Cho as a member of their party. I’m surprised those two are getting married. I’m surprised they are even dating or talking to each other,” De Baeremaeker said.

“I don’t think anyone on this planet would call Raymond Cho a conservative.”

De Baeremaeker said he’ll “feel very sorry” for Cho if he does get elected as a PC MPP.

“He will have a miserable life. He will be surrounded by a bunch of right-wing nutbars,” he said.

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Should Raymond Cho step down as a city councillor to run for the Ontario PCs?

Toronto Councillor Raymond Cho to run for Ontario Conservatives

Councillor Raymond Cho is running for the Progressive Conservatives in the next provincial election.
Cho, who has often been critical of right-wing Mayor Rob Ford, won the nomination for Scarborough-Rouge River Monday night.
The Ward 42, Scarborough-Rouge River councillor was acclaimed as the PC candidate.
Cho, 76, who once ran federally for the NDP, has toyed with running for the provincial Liberals and ran as an “independent liberal” federally as well.